Line holder



. BROWN.

LINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION men mum Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

m t n Q 0 u add Patented Get. 1.7, 1922.

LINE HOLDER.

Applicationfiled January 31, 1.921. Serial No. 441,312.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMMETT J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Line Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to line retainers and more particularly to clothes line holders wherein the line is gripped automatically by the strain on the line, and its object is to provide a construction wherein the line will be gripped without putting undue strain on the gripping member, and wherein said member is so constructed as to insure its ready gripping action. A further object is to provide a device embodying a pivoted gripping member arranged togrip lines of different sizes in cross section and also so arranged that it can not get out of position to grip a line placed in operative relation thereto. A further object is to provide certain other new and useful features in the construction and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described.

l/Vith the above and other ends in view thev invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device illustrative of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section, and

Fig. 4 a horizontal section. I

The device as shown comprises a bracket 1 having openings 2 to receive screws for fastening the bracket to any suitable support. Formed integral with the bracket near its lower end adjacent the openings 2 and projecting from the forward side of the bracket, is a hook 3, the inner curved face of which near the base thereof forms a seat 4 to receive a line, cable or rope 5. This line or rope is held firmly in its seat against strain put thereon in one direction, by a clamping or looking member indicated as a whole at 6 and comprising an arm portion 7 which is pivotally attached to the bracket at one end by a pivot bolt or rivet 8. The lower end of this arm is formed integral with a segment having a series of teeth or projections 10 of graduated lengths, said teeth being formed on the outer side face of the segment and projecting laterally therefrom.

This locking member 6 is pivotally supported to swing within the hook 3 transversely thereof with its segmental end located near the base of the hook and its teeth 10 projecting toward the seat 4 for the rope. The tooth at the end of the segment in the direction of strain on the rope, is shorter than the adjacent tooth, and each succeeding tooth is longer than the preceding tooth so that when a rope is placed in the seat of the hook and drawn taut, the locking member 6 will swing into engagement with the rope and bind the same within the seat. Because of the different lengths of the teeth, the locking member will bind ropes of different sizes in cross-section, and the binding action puts no strain on the clamping member 6 for the reason that the teeth which engage the rope are on the front face of the member and the back side thereof swings past a projection 11 on the bracket against which the said member seats, when the rope is caught between the hook and said member. The foot of the clamping member is therefore relieved of all strain and an'effective clamping action is secured. Also, by reason of the swinging action of the clamping member, the rope may be very readily released by a pull on the rope in a direction opposite to that of the strain thereon and the greater the strain, the tighter the rope will be clamped and held.

Toprevent the clamping member from swinging entirely through the hook and thus getting out of operative position, a stop lug 12 is provided on the rear end of the segment, and the swinging of the member over to the opposite side of the bracket, is prevented by a stop lug 13 on the arm 7 adjacent the pivot 8 to engage a co-operating lugl4 on the bracket. The clamping memher is thus permitted to swing freely, a limited distance in both directions but is prevented from getting out of position to grip a rope placed in the seat provided therefor in the hook.

The device is automatic in its gripping operation as it is only necessary to throw the line over the hook, when by pulling it taut,

simply pulling upon its free end, thus cans ing the clamping member to swing out of the hook, releasing the line, when it may be disengaged from its seat and lifted out of the hook. I

The teeth provide a strong grip or hold on the rope, their rounded and comparatively sharp ends embedding themselves into the rope, and thus all slipping or loosening of the line under strain is prevented, and by the novel arrangement of .the clamping member, said member is relieved of the pulling strain of the line, said strain being taken by the hook and bracket, the a member serving as awedge which swings into the hook and clamps the line therein without side thrust or strain on the member.

A very simple, light constructionwhich is strong and durable and which may be cheaply manufactured is provided, as the construction provides the necessary strength when made of cast metal.

What I claim is y A line holder comprising a bracket, a hook integral with and projecting from the forward side of said'bracket, said hook'being formed with a seat for a line spaced from the forward face of the bracket, a clamping member, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket at its upper end to swing transversely of said hookwith its lower end bearing upo-nthe front face of said bracket and confronting said seat,-and means for pivotally attaching the upper end of the arm to the brack et,whereby"the strain of a line clamped between said clamping member and said seat on said'hook force's said member into contact with' said bracket to relieve said member and itspiv-ot from the strain of the line.

In testimony whereof I- aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v EMMEYFTI J BROWN.

' Witnesses:

ANNA M.-DORR, v LEWIS E. FLANDERS. 

